Automatic Email Account Creation

Abstract

An email account is automatically created and associated with a communication device when an email is received for the communication device. The email is addressed using addressing information that includes a phone number associated with the recipient communication device, but does not include information identifying a network carrier associated with the recipient communication device. A messaging server causes an SMS to be sent to the recipient communication device. The SMS includes a notification that the email message has been received and includes a user-selectable link for accessing the email message. In response to receiving a selection of the user-selectable link, access is provided to the email message, for instance, using a Web-based email client at the recipient communication device.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 at a server,
 receiving an email message that is addressed to a recipient communication device, wherein the addressing information includes a phone number associated with the recipient communication device; 
 if no email account is associated with the recipient communication device, automatically creating an email account associated with the recipient communication device; 
 storing the email message for the email account; 
 causing an SMS to be sent to the recipient communication device, the SMS including a notification that the email message has been received and including a selectable link for accessing the email message; and 
 in response to receiving a selection of the selectable link, providing access to the email message. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein access is provided to the email account. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SMS includes information including an indication of the sender. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the indication includes at least one of: a name associated with an email address used by the sender to send the email message, the email address used by the sender to send the email message, and a phone number associated with a communication device used by the sender to send the email message. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SMS includes an indication of a duration for which the email message is accessible by the recipient. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling a user of the recipient communication device to register other email mailboxes with the account for accessing by the user. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the phone number to determine if an email account is associated with the recipient communication device. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the addressing information does not include information indicative of a network carrier associated with the recipient communication device. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the recipient communication device to restrict incoming emails to emails from formally identified senders. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the recipient communication device to restrict incoming emails to emails from senders included in a contact list associated with the email account. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the link is user-selectable. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the link is automatically activated by a messaging application at the recipient communication device that receives the SMS. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically creating the email account includes:
 opening a new record in a user account database; and   storing the phone number associated with the recipient communication device in the new record.   
   
   
       14 . A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving an email message that is addressed to a recipient communication device, wherein the addressing information includes a phone number associated with the recipient communication device;   if no email account is associated with the recipient communication device, automatically creating an email account associated with the recipient communication device;   storing the email message for the email account;   causing an SMS to be sent to the recipient communication device, the SMS including a notification that the email message has been received and including a selectable link for accessing the email message; and   in response to receiving a selection of the selectable link, providing access to the email message.   
   
   
       15 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 at a recipient communication device,
 receiving an SMS, the SMS including a notification that an email message has been received and including a selectable link for accessing the email message, wherein the email message is addressed to the recipient communication device using addressing information that includes a phone number associated with the recipient communication device; and 
 in response to receiving a selection of the selectable link, accessing a web page that provides access to an email account containing the email message, wherein the email account is created automatically and is associated with the phone number associated with the recipient communication device.